Railroad-crossing signal mechanism



D. R. RUPERT. RAILROAD CROSSING slGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY25, 192|.

LD.' R. RUPERT.

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL NIECHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1921- Patented June 6, 1922.

2 sHEETs-SHEET 2.

IIJ?? DEMS R. RUPERT, OF HUNTINGTON, NDIANA;

'RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL FIECHANISM.

Application led May 25, 1921. Serial No. 472,376.`

To all' whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, DEMUs B. Rnrnnna citizen of the United States,` residing at Huntington7 in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad- Crossing Signal Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear7 and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad signal mechanisms, and aims to provide a novel and improved apparatus of that kind for automatically giving a danger signal or indication at a grade crossing or dangerous point of thetrack, when a train, street car, or other vehicle approaches the crossing or signal point, and for clearing or returning the signal device after the train or car has passed suchpoint.

Another object is the provision of a signal mechanism which will be entirely automatic in operation to set and restore the signal device when thetrain or car approaches and leaves the crossing or danger point, to eliminate the necessity for a watchman, and to assure of a signal being given without fail,

vthereby safeguarding life and limb and reducing railroad accidents.

A further object is the provision of a novel signal stand or device to be actuated by the oncoming and passing trains or cars, and which will retain its position against accidental movement.

-A still further object is the provision of novel tripping devices to be operated by the wheels or other members of the trains or cars for operating the signal device or stand.

Itis also the object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which is comparatively inexpensive and simple in con` struction, which can be readily installed, which has a minimum number of parts, and which is not apt to wear and tear.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention residesin the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changesvcan be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

get out of order through f The invention is illustrated -in the accompanying drawings, wherei'nc-f Figure l is a side `elevation of the mechanism, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

y Fig. 3 is a diametrical section of the'base and turntable of the signal stand.

Fig. 4l is a plan view of the base.

The signal stand orv device comprises an upright or vertical staff 7 having suitablesignal plates or members 8 thereon, and also preferably supporting a signal lamp 9 for use at night. The V'signal plateseaeh have suitable legends and are disposed in one vertical plane, so as'to be readily seen when turned to a position substantially parallel with the track, whereas thesignal plates are practically invisible when rturned at 'right' sp'eicationof Lttersfratent PatentedJ une `r6, 192.2."4 f

angles ywith the track so thatl their edges mounted on a base `13'saidturntable 12 having a central boss 14a into which the lower end of the staff is `screw-threaded or otherwisesecured. The base 13 has an annular upstanding vflange 15 and the turn-v table Yhas an annular apron 17 surrounding said flange 15, forshedding rain and water from thel turntable, .so as not to enter the space between the turntable and base,` and to also exclude foreign lmatter therefrom'.` rlhe base has an outstanding flange 16 to be]y I securedy on the tie or other support 21,- andf said base-is provided thereon.. within :fthe I outline of the flange "15.: withla sinuous seat 18 for an annular supporting flange 19 de-wpending from the turntable within-thebase flange 15. Said flange 19 has its lower edge of sinuous form, as at 20, .to rseaty snugly on 105.

the seat 18, and the sinuous surfaces areso formed that when the Astaff 7 and turntable; 12 arev turned to position at `right Yangleswith one another, the turntable and staff are.

raised in moving froinone position to another and settleby gravity in ei'therposi-v tion, thereby maintaining the signal device in either position until turned.

The signal stand or device is operated by tripping` devices including tripping levers 22 and 22 pivotedbetween their ends, as at 23, to one rail of the track, at one side thereof, and locatedsuitable distances in opposite directions from the signal' device or stand. These tripping levers are preferably located several hundred yards from the signal stand, to assureof danger signal being given in plenty of time before the train or car approaches the crossing or protected point. .The upper ends of the levers 22 and u 22 project above the tread of the rail, to

be moved one way or the other by the wheels of the train or car, and the lower arms of said levers are connected by chains or flexible elements 24 and 24J, respectively, with the pull wires or rods 25 and 25, which preferably extend slidably through guide tubes 26 to points adjacent to the signal stand. The adjacent ends of the wires 25 and 25 are` connected by chains or flexible elements 27 and 27 respectively, with studs 28 on the turntable l2, which studs are so arranged that a pull on either of the wires 25 and 25 will turn the turntable and staff 7 to move the signal device to danger position, as seen in Figs. l and 2. The tripping l`levers22 and 22 when moved toward the signal stand bythe approach of a train or car, will therefore pull the corresponding chains and wires, for turning the signal device to danger position, so that said levers constitute signal setting means. Signal returning means are provided for clearing the signal, or returning same after the train or carhas passed, and such means include the tripping leversv 29 and 29 .fulcrumed or pivoted at their lower ends to the rail, as at.

30, near vthe levers 22 and 22, respectively. Chains or flexible elem-ents 31 and 3l are connected to the levers 29 and 29', respectively, between the ends of said levers, and are connected to the respectivepull wires or rods 32 and 32 which preferably slide through guide tubes `33 and extend to points adjacent to the signal stand. vThe adjacent -ends of the wires 32 and 32 are connected by the respective chains or flexible elements 34 and 34: with the studs 28 to which the respective chains 27 and 27 are connected. When the levers 29 and 29 are swung away are all normally held in vertical or interlmediate position by the springs 35, and

when the levers 22 and 22 are swung by the kwheels away from the signal stand, the respective chains 24 and 24 are simply slackened, whereas the chains 3l and 3l are slackened when the levers 29 and 29', re-

spectively, are swung by the wheels toward the signal stand, the pull wires only beingv pulled when such levers are swung in the opposite directions from those just stated.

l s shown, the tripping devices are installed at the outer side of one rail of a single track in which traffic moves in both directions. Assuming that a train or car is approaching from theleft, when it reaches the tripping lever 22, the upper end of said lever is swung by the firstwheel contacting with it, thereby swinging the upper end of said lever toward the signal stand, and pulling the chain 24, wirel 25, and chain 27, which will turn the turntable 12 and staff 7 to vswing the signal device t0 danger position, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. The chain 24 isthen slackened so that the lever 22 can oscillate by the contact ofthe Aother wheels therewith, without the interference with the signal device. When the turntable is thus turned, it rises in moving on the seat 18 of the base, and will then settle or gravitate in danger position. l The wheels passing the tripping lever 29 will simply swing said lever toward the signal stand idly, the chain 3l being slackened by such movement of the lever, without kdisturbing the signal device. rllhe signal is thus automatically given by the approach of the train or car, in order that pedestrian and vehicular traflic attempting to cross the track will be forewarned. Then, when the train or car has passed the crossing or protected point, and the lever 29 is engaged by thefrst..

wheel, it is swung away from the signal stand, thereby pulling the chain 31, wire 32 and chain 34, to turn the turntable back tov original position and thereby restore the signal device so that persons approaching the track may know that they can pass over in safety. When the signal device is turned to danger position, the chainsl and 34, wires 32 and 32 and chains 3l and 3l are pulled bythe turntable, so that such 'chains and wires aie comparatively taut, so that the swinging movement of the lever 29 '(or the lever 29 with tratlic in the opposite direction) will result in the signal device being turned to normal clear position. After the signal device is returned to such position,

the chains. 3l and 3l are slackened so that the levers 29 and 29 can oscillatewithout disturbing the signal device. The same is true when the wheels of the train or car moving` to the left pass over the lever 22, said lever being moved away from the signal stand, thereby simply slacking the chain 24.

When-trahie is moving in the Aopposite direction, or from the right, the lever 22l being swung toward the signal stand,-will turn the signal device to danger position,

and the lever 29 is operated idly, thel chain 3l being slackened. When the trainv or Vcar reaches the lever 29y and swings" it away from the stand, it will 'pull the signal ydevice back to clear position, and the lever 22 being moved awayy from the signal stand,

will simply slacken the chain 24. The two sets of tripping levers thus afford means for tripping and returning theA signal device by traiiic moving in either direction. If tr'alic is only in one direction, the pair vof tripping levers not required can be eliminated. For double tracks, the levers 22 and 29 can be associated with the rail of one track, and the levers 22 and 29 can be used on the other track, with the same signal stand, as will readily be apparent, it simply being necessary to have the signal stand located between the two tracks, and one pair of levers used on the adjacent rail of the other track.

The signal mechanism can not only be vused at crossings, but also at other points of the track, as for example, where the View is obstructed by woods, cornf'ields, buildings,

or the like. The mechanism also assures of a danger signal being given on the approach of a train or car, and should an accident occur, and the train or car be stopped immediately, before reaching the returning tripping lever beyond the crossing, it can readily be determined where the responsibility rests, and if the signal device is in danger position, where i t will remain when set, unless returned intentionally, it will relieve the railroad company of responsibility if the signal was ignored. Other means vfor producing signals than those shown can be used, for producing various suitable audible or visual signals.

The tripping devices can' also be used for operating the signal device for other conditions, such as at curves in the tracks to avoid the collision of trainsor cars, and said tripping devices can be operated by contact wheels or members provided on the locomotives or cars for that purpose, nstead of being operated by the car wheels, so as to avoid the repeated vibration of said devices by the successive wheels of a train.

Having thus described the invention, whatl is claimed as new is 1. A signal mechanism including a base, a turntable mounted thereon, a staff carried by the turntable and having signalling means thereon, said turntable and base having portions for raising the turntable and staif when moved from one position to another and for the gravitation thereof in either position, and means for turning said turntable to such positions.

2. A signal mechanism including a base, having a sinuous seat, a turntable having a sinuous portion bearing on said seat for raising the turntable when turned to diiierent positions and for the gravitation of said turntable in either position,fa staff mounted on the turntable and having signalling`.v

means, Iandineans 'for turning said turntable to such positions.v v

3. A signal mechanism including a-base having an annular upstanding 'flange and ya sinuous seat, a 'turntable having an apron surrounding said ange and a sinuous portion bearing on said base to raise the turntablewhen turned from one position to another and to permit the turntable to gravitate in either position, a staE carried by the turntable having signalling means, and means for turning saidturntable to such positions.

erated by a passing train to return to nor? mal position. Y

5. A signal mechanism including a signal device, two tripping leverslocated in oppo-.

site directions from said'device both normally in position to be operated by a pass-` ing train, and ilexible connections between said levers and device and arranged so that the device is set to signalling position by one lever when swung toward said device, and to return said device by the movement of the other lever away from-the device, such flexible connections permitting both levers when operated by a passing train to return to normal position. y

6. A signal mechanism including a signal device, and tripping means located in opposite direction from said device and all normally in position to be operatedby a train passing in either direction, and constructedl and arranged for setting said device to signalling position by the approach of a train U or car from either direction toward said de'-v vice and for returning the device when the l train or car has passed said device.

7. A signal mechanism including a signal device, two setting tripping levers located in opposite directions from said device and normally in position to be operated-by trains passing in either direction, ieXible connections between said levers and device whereby said leverswhen swung toward said device will set same to signalling position and permitting said levers to returnto normal position when moved by trainspassing in either direction, Atwo returning tripping levers also located in opposite directions `from said device and normally in position to be operated by trains passing in either direction, and

flexible connections between the iastnmned In testimony whereof I have signed my v tripping levers and Said device for returnnaine to this specification in the presence of ing said device by the mo vement oflsaid lasttwo `Subscribing Witnesses.

nemed tripping levers away from Said de- DEMS R. RUPERT.- vlee, and permitting the lastnamed levers to Vitnesses: y return to normal position after being Oper-v CLAUDE CLINE,

ated by trains passing in eithei` direction. DORIS KLINE. 

